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Learning About Telescopes

Telescopes allow us to explore beyond our planet and observe distant galaxies. These resources will help you teach your students how telescopes work, how they were developed, and the fascinating information they continue to reveal. This slideshow includes a number of activities related to the Hubble telescope.

In this space science printable, students will answer questions about a reflecting telescopefirst used by Isaac Newtonand explain how it uses mirrors. As a skill challenge, they will identify and label the parts of a reflecting telescope.

In this space science printable, students will answer questions about lenses in a refracting telescope, the kind of device Galileo used to view the Moon. They will also identify convex lenses and calculate the light-gathering power of a refracting telescope.

This worksheet gives students practice identifying telescopes and explaining their differences. They will identify the advantages of using a radio telescope and compare it to reflecting and refracting telescopes. Use this printable to supplement your study of physics and space science.

Connect Earth, physical, and space sciences with this printable about telescopes. Using reference materials, students will answer questions about the electromagnetic spectrum, the visible spectrum, and wavelength. As a skill challenge, they will compare telescopes and determine what they can be used to study.